From Feral to Fork

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Earlier this month our RALF team hosted a fantastic ‘Feral Feast’ at the Central Greenough Café & Historic Settlement!

The day consisted of great food and plenty of information and practical advice for pest management of all kinds. We heard from a number of presenters who provided information about how to practice safe and effective pest and weed control. 

Kicking off the morning was one of our favourite queens of biosecurity Marieke Jansen from the Northern Biosecurity Group (NBG). Marieke updated the group on what the NBG have been up to recently, what they are planning for the coming year and how you can get involved. They are currently using GPS trackers on feral pigs to better understand their behaviour, allowing for more successful and targeted control. You can read more about Recognised Biosecurity Groups later on in this month’s edition of NACC Notes. 

Marieke Jansen from the Northern Biosecurity Group

DPIRD’s local biosecurity officer David Lisle gave us a rundown on managing feral rabbit populations around the country and discussed some of the national results from the RHDV1- k5 virus release. He also explained why rabbits are so good at ‘bouncing back’ and how we can all do our part to control them. Did you know that a rabbit doe can produce 50-60 offspring in a single season? Rabbits compete with many of our native herbivores for food and they are also a significant threat to many of our already threatened native flora.

Next up Natasha James of Wesuri Alpacas shared some of her extensive knowledge of alpacas. Their protective instincts make them an excellent option for using as herd guards to protect sheep, goats, poultry and pigs, from foxes and other smaller predators.

The lucky winners of our door prizes took home all local products!

Erin O’Connor, Environmental Planning Officer from the City of Greater Geraldton (CGG) spoke about the dreaded Boxthorn and how to safely eradicate this weed. The city runs ‘Boxthorn Blitz’ workshops each year and we encourage you to contact Erin if you would like more information. CGG have also created an excellent Boxthorn kit resource, including gloves, secateurs and herbicide which can be borrowed by members of the public to address small scale infestations.

Our final speaker was Andrew O’Dwyer fromMidwest Pest Management. Andrew spoke about hands-on pest control of rabbits, foxes, cats and wild dogs. Midwest Pest Management have recently acquired a Rodenator and Andrew explained how it works. It is one of the most humane methods for destroying rabbit warrens.

Like many problems in natural resource management, there is no silver bullet solution for pest management, but being aware of all the options available and more importantly, coordinating control with your neighbours, we have the greatest chance of success. 

After hearing from our awesome speakers, the group were treated to a delicious feast including ‘feral’ goat pies. 

After lunch, the group had a chance to make their very own rabbit-repellent spray! This is an easy recipe that can be used to stop rabbits from grazing on your garden plants. (We also wondered whether it might be useful for stopping our pet lambs too!) Recipe available here.

Thanks to all who joined us on the day and to our wonderful presenters for sharing their wealth of knowledge. 

(From left) NACCers Annabelle Garratt, Jarna Kendle, Callum Love, Kane Watson, Lizzie King and Phoebe Royce at the Feral Feast.

If you want to talk more about pest or weed management and where to get more information, please get in contact with our Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators; Annabelle Garratt (E) annabelle.garratt@nacc.com.au or (P) 0448 986 879 or Lizzie King (E) Lizzie.King@nacc.com.au or (P) 0447 361 335.

This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.

Lizzie King & Annabelle Garratt – Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.